368 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



stands on the field of snow, right in the midst. It would 

 be impossible to get near him, but we may drive him. 

 Come along, let us try !" and we descended the slope and 

 into the stony bottom. Here lay whole banks of earth 

 torn down by the floods, and fragments of rock and up- 

 rooted trees and bushes. Through these we went, and up 

 on the other side. Once here, what before had seemed 

 from a distance an even surface of snow, showed itself 

 full of rifts. From time to time we came suddenly on 

 a chasm, that descended straight down eighty feet and 

 more, and so abruptly, that the merest slip of the foot 

 would send you to the bottom. At best it was but bad 

 walking here. The slopes were so steep that in going 

 round them — for we were obliged to choose these places 

 and keep below the ridge, to avoid being seen — we were 

 forced to dig a footing with our poles for each coming 

 step as we proceeded, the snow being deep and not to be 

 trusted. Hans, who went first, would sometimes, if he 

 himself were standing firmly, thrust back his pole with its 

 iron point under my foot, in order to steady it and make 

 doubly sure, for now and then it was perilous work. Once 

 we went along a narrow path — perhaps eighteen inches 

 wide — worn in the side of the rock, just above a chasm. 

 The rock overhung the path a little, and at a turn pro- 

 jected so much that, the better to get by, I rested my 

 right hand on the jutting mass, as I bent my body 

 slightly outwards on the opposite side. Just as I was 

 turning I felt the rock I held by giving way. I had but 

 time to stand firm and quietly, and try to preserve my 

 equilibrium. Instinctively as the crumbling fragment 

 fell ; I guided it so as not to let it strike my chest or 

 shoulder, which would have sent me over; but caused it 

 to fall lower down, so that I was able to withstand the 

 shock. Down rolled the loosened stones, dashing over the 



